“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ”

⠀⠀⠀theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, dr. sam beckett stepped into the quantum leap accelerator and

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀
ㅤ⠀⠀ㅤ⠀⠀* .🦋⚡️ .⠀⠀

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

alright there? "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" mm? oh.ᐟ sorry. i uhm— " quick lie, quick lie. " like to verbalize and try to . . . visualize, my next moves sometimes. sort of like a mental game of chess. " a half truth, but enough of one to not make him appear too deranged.

hopefully, at least.
" are 𝒚𝒐𝒖 still +

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

she stopped still even so, not quite recognising where he had gone but aware enough to know that he was somewhere else, some distance from her, though he remained at her side. it was almost familiar ; a dark mirror. memories, or . . . >

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

if he maintained dual focus on her and on his friend.

well. let's see what ziggy's got this time, yeah?

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" we'll worry about it later, mm? right now the bigger concern is making across this road — " finally 𝒂𝒍 had appeared, and his silent nodding, somewhat hidden hand gestures, and eyes off her, proved it.

to the wrong person, he might appear to be hallucinating. even +

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" no, no- i insist, love! it's the very least i can do after everything. " she's generous then - and pushy - speaks on instinct despite not being certain of her means. " i'll find . . . something. "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" i've got it handled, " he reassured, though, he'd yet to see if the person he leapt into even had money. he did feel a wallet in the back pocket and surely nobody in their right mind would carry an empty one.

. . . right?

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

a relief, then, that she is not taking him too far out of his way. if only she knew. " well, that's good. i'll . . . pay for a taxi for you, or whatever might be helpful. you've been so good already. "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" not really, no. " lying through his teeth, and feeling all the more awful for it. his bearings were regained and with some struggling, he did manage to find a sign for the police station.

convenient. and perfect.

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" yes. we should. oh, the weather's been all over the place today. " something in her suggests that is not entirely true. but it's a useful descriptor of whatever has happened.

" do you live far from here? "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" mhari. lovely to properly meet you then, here— let's get going, mm? it's getting dark out here. . "

he was worried of getting too lost, given he didn't yet see where he'd popped in. reasonable, really.

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" ever so pleased to meet you, sam. i'm - " a few names flash through her mind: gina, eileen, seren . . . she settles on, because it sounds right, " mhairi. i think. yes. hello. "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" i hadn't, no, but it's 𝒔𝒂𝒎. " gender neutral, could be explained as a nickname later, oh—.ᐟ and, wouldn't be too much information to backtrack. easy.

and also, actually his name. " and you are. . ? "

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" oh . . . you're very good. though it does trouble me to think of you being reprimanded on my account. " a small, appreciative smile, all the same. " what did you say your - did you tell me your name? "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" i'm not too worried about it either way. if i get in trouble, i get in trouble. " and he hopes that's not what the mission is. avoiding trouble. surely not though, if he was sent back or forward to not help someone—

that could be cruel, surely?

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" well, you're very kind. if it comes back to bite you, i can step in. i have — actually, i don't know if i could step in. " she has had money, influence ; she also has not. the two are incompatible, and yet both seem true.

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" very sure. and even if i did— would be pretty darned rude to leave you here, wouldn't it? " a valid point, one he'd used to convince himself of this mere moments prior.

" here. one step at a time, let's go get some help, mm? "

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

she can recall the panic at his brief touch, at least - but his relieved expression leaves her with nothing to worry about. thank goodness. " i'll hopefully remember something on the way. and you - are you sure you have nowhere to be? "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" deep breaths, mm? easy. . . " a hand moved to check her pulse, and once it proved to not be especially concerning, he let out a small sigh of relief.

" we'll take you to a station, "

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" i — don't know. yes! i have a wife, or a husband, or a - there's a sister, i think. oh, i don't know. " she takes a seat, using her focus instead to try and untangle the confused memories. " i'm not sure. the police, maybe? "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" easy, take a moment to think and. . . d'you have someone i could try to call? " head tilting. concerned, though he's not jumping to the conclusion she's had a 'stroke' or anything, it does quietly factor in the background.

" it's not urgent we rush off. "

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" terribly kind of you. i work at the — oh. i don't know. the studios, i think. no, it's a garden centre. or a- tea shop. i'm not sure — "

a blur of memories, then. she's grateful to have someone around, if embarassed to be witnessed.

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" oh, nono— i don't mind a bit. here, i'll stick right by, mm? " part of his job is to help people, after all. and if he's got to do this without al or ziggy?

well, then she's just got to assume this is the person she's meant to help.

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" have you got time to walk with me? just — strange, really, i feel unsteady on my feet! how odd. "

and he seems trustworthy. though, as her memories slowly return, she hopes to underatand that better.

" only if i'm not bothering you. "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" if they don't, they're ridiculous, to be honest, " he added, nodding a little in an aim to reassure her.

unsure what to do now. al still hasn't popped by.

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" glad it's not just me, then . . . oh. i must be late for work, " she realised, blinking as she let go of his arm.

" they'll understand, i hope. if you say you feel something has happened, then hopefully we're not alone in that. "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

he didn't judge or question it at all, instead simply smiling and nodding in a reassuring manner.

" the last few hours do feel a little hazy, yes. " she, infamous for having a 'swiss cheese brain' admitted.

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

" oh — thank you, love. " and perhaps she feels a little embarassed for the need, but she takes his arm to steady herself, trying to piece together separate memories.

" do you feel like you've lost a few hours, or so? "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

just the slightest bit wobbly still.

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

" something 𝒅id feel as if it'd shifted— " she admitted, though it was a half lie. waiting for 𝑨𝑳 sometimes could be a nightmare, and struggling through this already was . . .

something of a mess.
" here, " his arm was offered out. just in case, as she did seem +

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

⠀ " something like that.
strange. did you -
did something happen? "

she's grateful the feeling is not
unique, though they may not be
much help to each other. a comfort,
at least.

⠀ " an . . . earthquake,
or . . . ? "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

⠀ mister? 𝒈ood. that gets
figuring out if he's male or
female presenting today, in
the body of whomever he
happened upon this time.

" just. . . need a few moments
to get my bearings, i believe. "

[* 𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝘿𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙃 .ᐟ @TRIADSTECH]

⠀ " no harm done, mister.
i'm certain of it. don't
worry about me. "

though she's not too sure ; a strange, out-of-body memory
she cannot shake.

⠀ " you, however . . .
can i help? "

[“ 𝑶𝑯 𝑩𝑶𝒀.ᐟ ” @POLYGLOTLEAPER]

one supposes any sort of empathizing, even if a much more disconnected form, could be. . . helpful.

[‍‍ ‍ ‍‍ ‍ ‍‍ ‍✶ D̲𝗘𝗩IL'S 𝘼𝗗V̲𖦹CATE . @LAWSTEETH]

oh , i wasn't judging. just a bit funny , yeah? i want to eviscerate tissue with my teeth and hands and you relate with pencils. it * is charming.